The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-03-14
Ths 5Ailv 8Mlletin,
MONDAY. MAR. Ia. 1887.
the PANAMA CANAL,

utIS, Odus NC
has published under the title of "a
Panama" Librairie Guilaumin ct
Gle. }, the letters which he sent from
the canal when he visited it with the
French, German, English and
American delegates. In dedica-
ton to Mr.. Ferdinand de Lesseps,
he says:-
/ had heard it stated by men who
considered themselves competent to
give an opinion that the cutting of
the isthmus would meet with insur-
mountable difficulties, that it would
be impossible to penetrate through
the masses of rock, or to inclose
within bikes the Chagres, the terri
bic Chagres! Yes, that IL they did
succeed, it would be after having
sacrificed generations of laborers
and shareholders; that in four years
since the commencement of the
work they had scarcely removed the
tenth part of the cubic matter to be
taken away; that at this rate the
penetration of the isthmus would
require more time than was neces-
sary for the construction of the
pyramids of Egypt; and lastly, that
the cost of superintendent during
the work would not fail TO eat up the
capital of the new loans, so that
nothing would remain for the work.
Although these objections and an
ticipations appeared to be little
late, and of a kind specially adapted
to crafty certain Yankee specula-
tors, who would not be disinclined
to take up the work again on con-
tract, they left certain impression
upon my mind.
These apprehensions and regrets
/ need scarcely tell you, were dissi-
pated in proportion as 1 could APP
preciate the Importance of the work
already accomplished and the colos-
sal power of the means of execution,
accumulated TO finish the rest. AS
soon as we disembarked l saw--at
the place occupied four years ago
by pestilent marsh-rising on the
ground which protects the opening
of the canal, a new, clean, healthy
and lively town, the town Of Christie
pher Columbus, one of the future
emporiums of the world. ! sailed
for distance of ten kilomGtre along
the canal, which only exists on
paper, according to the Bourse
cavillers of the Boulevard, 1 crossed
the two new beds which the dredg-
ing machines and excavators are
cutting for the Chagres, l was pre-
sent at the fall of a mountain blown
up and reduced to fragments by
dynamite, 1 saw the work COM
menced at the Culebra, and l saw
over all the seventy-five kilometres
of the line of the canal an army OF
workmen and countless machines.
That treasured me.
The army of from 10000 to 49,.
600 wOrkmen which saw busted in
this Isthmus of Panama is aided by
contingent of machines, dredging
apparatus, eXcavators and locomo-
tives, representing an auxiliary force
of about 600, 900 men.
Certainly hearty pull is still
necessary to bring this colossal
enterprise to completion. But the
industrial host which is now at work
shows itself full of zeal and conf.
dence. II has at command the most
powerful tools that science and
capital have ever applied TO the
struggle against the force of nature
it is supported by reserve OF
capitalists, great and small, who
understand that the completion of
this enterprise, one of the boldest
and most promising of the century,
is important, not only for their own
interest, but for the glory of France.
Lastly, it is directed by a General
who has already led to victory, and
who will do so second time
Especial to the London Times.